successfully challenged Louisiana Sen. Russell Long for the leadership job of Senate whip. But, in his memoir, Kennedy writes that he always had great affection for Long. "I liked Russell: As a specialist in tax law with a conservative's anti-tax position, he differed in his politics from me; but his racial views were far more moderate than those of his Southern colleagues. More often than not, Russell and I would sit next to each other during Democratic Caucus meetings and he'd tell stories. He was witty, a great teller of jokes, one of the most entertaining senators I've known." And, Kennedy wrote, "he also knew how to get things done. He had perfected a trick of persuasion that reminded me of Lyndon Johnson: He would lean into you during a discussion, bringing his face in close to yours and draping a heavy arm around your shoulders, pulling you to him against your will. He'd get inside your space, your comfort zone. Senators would find themselves agreeing to whatever he wanted, just to get away."